While the Brigid's Cross is widely believed to be a Christian symbol its origin lies in much older traditions that celebrate the life-giving goddess, Brigid of the Tuatha de Danaan. She is known by many names: Bride, Bridey, Brighid, Brigit, Briggidda, Brigantia,and Breet. She is the traditional patroness of healing, poetry, and smithcraft. She is a female solar deity associated with rivers, and wells and has the attributes of inner healing, vital energy, light, inspiration, and all of the skills associated with fire. She is known as The Mistress of the Mantle representing the sister, or virgin aspect of the Great Goddess. She is the Goddess of physicians and healing, of divination and prophecy and in an older incarnation she was Breo-saighead, or fiery arrow, with the attributes of punishment and divine justice.

In modern Britain, Brigid is known as the warrior-maiden, Brigantia, and venerated not only as justice and authority, but also as the personification of Britain symbolising the nation for 2,000 years, whose image is routinely mistaken for Boudica, Queen Victoria, and even Margaret Thatcher. There are three rivers named for her, the Brigit, the Braint, and the Brent in Ireland, Wales, and England respectively. She is associated with the cow and the beginning of spring. She survived Christendom by becoming a saint, the patron saint of smiths, poets and healers. Sir James Frazer wrote of St. Brigid in the Golden Bough, "An old heathen goddess of fertility, disguised in a threadbare Christian cloak."

How to Make a Brigit Cross

The Brigid's cross is a Celtic Sun Wheel woven from rushes or reeds. They are oftem made at Imbolc and hung at the entrance of the home as a blessing and for protection. To make one you will need You will need 16 reeds, rushes, or pieces of straw.

1. To begin take the shortest piece and hold it upright. Then take a second straw, fold it in half and wrap it around the center of the first straw so that it opens to the right.

2. Pull it tight and rotate 90 degrees counter-clockwise.

3. Take a third straw and wrap it around the center of the second straw so that it is opens to the right.

4. Pull it tight and rotate 90 degrees counter-clockwise.

5. Take a fourth straw and wrap it around the center of the third straw so that it opens to the right.

6. Pull it tight and rotate 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Take a fifth straw and wrap it around the center of the fourth straw so that it opens to the right.

Repeat this process until at least 12 straws have been woven into the design. Add each straw at the top so it opens to the right, then turning the entire assemblage 90 degrees counter-clockwise, and repeat. When you have finished secure the ends of the arms of the Cross with twine, elastic, or ribbon and trim the ends so that they are even.